NARIKELA (Endosperm)
Narikela consists of dried endosperm of Cocos nucifera Linn. (Fam. Arecacem), a tall palm, bearing a crown of large pinnate leaves, cultivated in coastal and deltaic regions of South India.
SYNONYMS
Sansk : Narikela, Trnaraja
Assam. : Khopra
Beng. : Narikel, Narikel
Eng. : Coconut Palm
Guj. : Naliar, Nariyel, Shriphal, Koprun
Hindi. : Nariyal, Gola
Kan. : Khobbari, Tengnamara, Temgu, Thengu, Thenginamara
Kash. : —
Mal. : Nalikeram, Ten, Thengu, Keram
Mar. : Naral
Ori. : Nariyal
Punj. : Narela, Khopra, Garigola
Tam. : Tenkai, Kopparai
Tel. : Narikelamu, Tenkay, Kobbari
Urdu. : Narjil, Narial
DESCRIPTION
a) Macroscopic
Drug available whole as well as in broken pieces of endosperm, whole drug 8 -14 cm in size; ovoid, three angled, outer surface brown, somewhat rough due to shallow, reticulated striations; transversely broken; whole drug shows 0.8-1.2 cm thick, white endosperm and a large central cavity; fracture, short; odour, faint; taste, sweetish and oily.
b) Microscopic
Endosperm shows testa, consisting of irregularly arranged, brown, compact, parenchymatous cells; beneath testa a very wide zone, consisting of outer 2-3 layers, thin-walled, smaller and angular parenchymatous cells, followed by radially elongated, larger and thin-walled parenchymatous cells, containing numerous aleurone grains, raphides, prismatic crystals of calcium oxalate and oil globules.
Powder – White and oily; shows thin-walled. parenchymatous cells, fragments of polyhedral, thin-walled, testa cells in surface view, aleurone grains, oil globules, raphides, a few prismatic crystals of calcium oxalate and vessels.
IDENTITY, PURITY AND STRENGTH
Foreign matter Nil Appendix 2.2.2
Total ash Not more than 2.5 Per cent, Appendix 2.2.3
Acid-insoluble ash Not more than 0.5 Per cent, Appendix 2.2.4
Alcohol-soluble extractive Not less than 13 Per cent, Appendix 2.2.6
Water-soluble extractive Not less than 10 Per cent, Appendix 2.2.7
Fixed oil Not less than 59 Per cent, Appendix 2.2.8
T.L.C. –
T.L.C. of the alcoholic extract on Silica gel ‘G’ plate using Toluene: Ethylacetate (93 : 7) shows under U.V. (366 nm) two fluorescent zones at Rf. 0.91 and 0.98 (both blue). On exposure to Iodine vapour three spots appear at Rf. 0.33, 0.91 and 0.98 (all yellow). On spraying with Anisaldehyde-Sulphuric acid reagent and heating the plate at 105°C for fifteen minutes three spots appear at Rf. 0.33, 0.91 and 0.98 (all violet).
CONSTITUENTS – Fixed Oil.
PROPERTIES AND ACTION
Rasa : Madhura
Guna : Guru, Snigdha
Virya : Sita
Vipaka : Madhura
Karma : Balya, Hrdya, Vrsya, Vatahara Pittahara, Kaphakara, Brmhana, Bastisodhaka, Vistambhi
IMPORTANT FORMULATIONS – Narikela Khanda, Narikela Lavan
THERAPEUTIC USES – Daha, Ksata, Ksaya, Raktapitta, Trsna, Sosa, Sula
DOSE – 10-20 g. of the drug in powder form.
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